During his period of recovery after being thrown from his horse, Darby developed a deep conviction regarding the credibility of Scripture and the significance of prophetic teachings. His attention was particularly captivated by the thirty-second chapter of Isaiah, which he regarded as a depiction of a future state of affairs that had not yet come into existence.Despite his strong faith in the Scriptures, Darby still held onto some of his previous Anglican beliefs. As evidence, Neatby states that Darby was the only one among the earlier Brethren who continued to believe in infant baptism.Darby's contribution to the doctrinal platform of the Brethren included a groundbreaking idea that continues to define the dispensational school of thought. Specifically, his dismissal and disdain for historical context stands out. Allis, in his work "Prophecy and the Church," cites a statement by Darby on page 26 that encapsulates this perspective.

I am disinclined to accept the notion that the ruins of Nineveh or Babylon, or the control of Jerusalem by the Gentiles, hold any significance for me. Furthermore, I firmly reject the idea that historical events are essential for comprehending prophecy.

When initially established, the Plymouth Brethren displayed two primary distinguishing characteristics: (1) they embraced an ecumenical approach and (2) they aimed to eliminate the presence of an ordained clergy and any form of organizational structure within the local church. They held a strong aversion towards incorporating music or rituals into their church services. Darby, as noted by his biographers, emphasized "the union of the children of God" as his guiding principle. The Brethren disapproved of ordination, viewing it as a human-created ministry, and intentionally chose the term "Brethren" to distance themselves from denominationalism.